IDM Mailing Archive

In a message dated 25/01/97 14:50:21, you write:

quoted 4 lines i saw a promo with a huge ebv logo on it today...its called oil...

> i saw a promo with a huge ebv logo on it today...its called oil... > is this fsol?...dont know the track names to dead cities...but > i have a feeling it might be something good...it had four tracks > on it...five quid...worth it????

From the promo sheet - Oil - Slight Of Hand [some bumlick about FSOL being an 'ultramedia' corporation...] \ Oil is the brainchild of Leon Marr. Leon has already established himself as one of this country's most promising new talents through releases on Reinforced Records under the name Arcon 2. He has had press coverage in iD, Mixmag, Wax and NME as well as specialist radio support. There will be an Oil album in the first half of 97. / If this *isn't* FSOL at work on this record, the guy is doing a pretty thorough job of emulating them. Chunky breakbeats, cavernous female moans, dist guitar licks, acid squiggles, and names like 'Psychocrab' and 'Incubus' are the order of the day here. Still, don't let that put you off, it's a good record, though nothing to amaze if you've been listening to Dead Cities. The release date is set for Feb 10. Other stuff - u-Ziq - Urmur Bile Trax If you were expecting the full-on breakbeat thing he did on his live shows with Aphex, you might be a bit disappointed, as most of the tracks here aren't that manic, but that doesn't stop the music being great. A revival of Rephlex days I'm not sure about though, this is a great deal closer to Kid Spatula than anything else. Highlights are Let Let (tapdancing on squeezy toys springs to mind), M5 Saabtone, which is halfway between ambience and jungle intricacy, and Hip 007, which is the heaviest track of the two EPs, and at 12:37 is the longest too. Obviously a great deal of work went into these tracks, which are extremely long for the drum and bass style. Notice the Drexciya sampling at work on 'Hydrozone' - homage?? Sometimes the production could be a bit better - there are lots of pops where samples stop and start. Worth buying for the sleeves alone. Autechre - Envane Cracking stuff. 4 tracks over 2 EPs might seem unnecessary, but the quality benefits from being cut very loud. First track on either EP is a blinder, they have hurtled out deep into 'Key Nell' territory now, barely a distortion-free sound to be heard. If the LP gives us more of this, it will be something no-one will want to pass by. Metamatics - EP02 (Clear) More spunky funk on Clear. EP01 is, on first listen, pretty boring Herbert-esque house grooving, but EP02 is just the ticket. Extremely minimal, but these guys know where to put their sounds. EP03 and EP04 follow soon after, then a CD with all 4 on, plus mixes. On Now? Hornet - u-Ziq (hey, who turned out the lights!)